A. E. Stallings, whose full name is Alicia Elsbeth Stallings, was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia. She pursued her education in classics, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1990. Following that, she continued her studies at the University of Oxford, where she completed a Master of Studies (MSt) in Latin Literature at Lady Margaret Hall in 1991.In her literary career, Stallings serves as an editor for the Atlanta Review, a role that showcases her involvement in the literary community. Notably, in 1999, she made a significant move to Athens, Greece, where she resides.

Within the realm of poetry, Stallings plays a crucial role as the Poetry Program Director at the Athens Centre. Additionally, she imparts her knowledge and expertise by teaching regularly at events such as the Sewanee Summer Writers’ Workshop and the West Chester University Poetry Conference.

A. E. Stallings is a highly regarded poet whose work has been published in prestigious publications like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Review of Books. She also writes essays and reviews for various literary journals and newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and the London Review of Books. Her poems often use traditional forms and are associated with New Formalism. Her work has been anthologized in notable collections, including Best American Poetry, showcasing her significant contribution to contemporary poetry. A. E. Stallings has published several poetry collections, including “Archaic Smile” in 1999 (winner of the Richard Wilbur Award), “Hapax” in 2006 (awarded the Poets’ Prize and the Benjamin H. Danks Award), “Olives” in 2012 (National Book Critics Circle Award finalist), and “Like” in 2018 (Pulitzer Prize in Poetry finalist). She released a selection of her published poems titled “This Afterlife” in 2022. These collections have solidified her reputation as a highly acclaimed poet.

Everything I do is me. I don’t like taking ideas from people unless they’re the G.O.A.T.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie

A. E. Stallings is a talented translator, proficient in Ancient Greek, Modern Greek, and Latin. In 2007, she notably translated Lucretius’ “De Rerum Natura” into rhyming fourteeners, a translation introduced by the distinguished classicist Richard Jenkyns and published by Penguin. Critic Peter Stothard praised it in the TLS, describing it as “one of the most extraordinary classical translations of recent times.” Stallings’ translation work demonstrates her skill in making classical texts accessible and engaging to modern readers.

In 2017, A. E. Stallings published a verse translation of Hesiod’s “Works and Days,” which included an introductory essay and endnotes, also through Penguin. Classicist, critic, and poet Peter MacDonald hailed it as a “superb creation” and commended Stallings for her “mastery of a characteristic voice” for Hesiod. He also highlighted the virtues of her “persuasively argued and brilliant Introduction,” further solidifying her reputation as a skilled and insightful translator of classical texts.A. E. Stallings has also translated “The Battle between the Frogs and the Mice,” a parody of Homer considered a Hellenistic epyllion, into rhyming iambic pentameters. This translation, accompanied by illustrations from Grant Silverstein, was published by Paul Dry in 2019. Poet Ange Mlinko praised Stallings for her unique ability to be both serious and sparkling in her work, noting that it is a rarity for a poet to achieve this balance, further highlighting Stallings’ talent and versatility as a translator and poet.

A. E. Stallings has received numerous accolades and recognition for her original poetry. Her debut collection, “Archaic Smile,” not only won the 1999 Richard Wilbur Award but was also a finalist for the Yale Younger Poets Series and the Walt Whitman Award. Her work has been featured in multiple editions of “The Best American Poetry” anthologies (1994, 2000, 2015, 2016, and 2017), showcasing her consistent excellence. Stallings has also been honored with a Pushcart Prize, the Eunice Tietjens Prize, the 2004 Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award, and the James Dickey Prize, underscoring her significant contributions to contemporary poetry.

A. E. Stallings has received several notable awards for her poetry collections. “Hapax” (2006) was honored with the 2008 Poets’ Prize. “Olives” (2012) was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her collection “Like” (2018) was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Furthermore, her volume of selected works, “This Afterlife,” was shortlisted for the 2023 Runciman Award in April 2023. These accolades highlight her consistent excellence in the world of contemporary poetry.

A. E. Stallings has garnered acclaim for her translations, including the Willis Barnstone Translation Prize in 2010 and a shortlist nomination for the 2019 Runciman Award for her translation of Hesiod’s “Works and Days.”

She has received prestigious fellowships, such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and was named a Fellow of United States Artists. Stallings is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. In 2023, she was elected as the 47th Oxford Professor of Poetry, a significant honor in the world of literature.

A. E. Stallings has written several notable books of poetry and translations. Some of her famous books include:

1. “Archaic Smile” (1999): Her debut poetry collection, which won the Richard Wilbur Award.
2. “Hapax” (2006): This collection received the 2008 Poets’ Prize.
3. “Olives” (2012): A collection of her poetry that was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
4. “Like” (2018): Another highly acclaimed poetry collection, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
5. “This Afterlife” (2022): A selection of her published poems.
6. “Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura” (2007): A translation of Lucretius’ work into rhyming fourteeners.
7. “Hesiod’s Works and Days” (2017): Her verse translation of Hesiod’s classical work.
8. “The Battle between the Frogs and the Mice” (2019): A translation of this classical text into rhyming iambic pentameters.

These books showcase her talent as a poet and translator and have contributed to her reputation as a prominent figure in contemporary literature.